What if we took fun seriously?

Having fun. Playing.

As kids, it came naturally. No agenda, no pressure. Just made-up stories, silly jokes, laughter for no reason at all.

And then one day, we traded it all in - for deadlines, meetings and this obsession with being productive.

But I truly believe playfulness is what makes us feel alive.

We can do serious things, without taking ourselves too seriously. At work, at home, in everyday life.

I’m not talking about one specific activity. I’m talking about that feeling. The one that makes you smile for no reason. The one that makes time disappear. The one that suddenly makes everything feel lighter.

Recently, I came across a post by the brilliant Marie Robert, quoting science journalist Catherine Price. She says that fun comes down to three things:

Playfulness

Connection

Presence

Playfulness isn’t just about playing games or pretending. It’s a joyful, open attitude - one that lets go of perfectionism and what others might think.

Connection is that shared spark. A moment suspended in time, often with someone else - or with the world around you.

And presence is when you're so immersed in what you're doing that you forget the time, your inbox, everything else.

When all three are there.. it’s magic. That’s when we truly have fun.

But here’s the thing: fun only happens when we take it seriously.

Not like a task on your to-do list - But like a spark worth protecting, worth reigniting.

So if you’re reading this,I hope you never lose your sense of fun.

8 QUESTIONS TO SANDRA

For this month’s theme, I’m excited to introduce someone I deeply admire and who has taught me so much - especially in my role as a facilitator: my improv teacher.

I’m fascinated by her ability to create an environment that feels both totally safe and incredibly energizing.. a space where you feel free to really play. No fear of being ridiculous, no pressure to get it right. Just the joy of trying, imagining, and daring.

I asked her a few questions about fun, play, and what it sparks in us.

I loved our conversation so much that I’m sharing the full audio exchange here - in Spanish.

You can also find her work and inspirations on her website and Instagram.

Sandra, you teach improv, so you basically spend your days playing. What does “having fun” mean to you? And do you think we can relearn how to play?

Play is actually part of every aspect of life. When you meet someone - whether it’s to flirt or make a new friend - there’s always an element of play. What we show, what we hold back, the jokes, the little made-up stories, the effort to make someone laugh… that’s all play. In a way, just getting to know people is already full of play.

And when you’re teaching, I imagine you sometimes have people who are a bit shy or hesitant. I’ve seen it - and I’ve been there too. How do you help them loosen up and have fun?

Well first, I wouldn’t put you in that group. You’re a real disfrutona - someone who finds joy easily and jumps in without overthinking. But yes, it’s true, some people are more reserved. Especially women - we’re taught not to look foolish. As we grow up, we’re trained to keep up appearances, to avoid embarrassment - and that can really block our ability to play.

So how do we deal with that? By creating a safe space. Meaning: for this hour and a half we’re together, what happens here stays here. Even if I make a fool of myself, fall on my butt, say something ridiculous… nobody outside will ever know. And what ends up happening is: if you give yourself permission to be silly even once a week, it becomes easier to bring that joy into the rest of your life too.

And it’s true, in improv there’s this idea of diving in without knowing what’s going to happen. Would you say that’s what play is? Letting go of the need for things to be “done right”?

Exactly. That’s the heart of play: starting something without knowing how it’ll end. And for it to be fun, you can’t be stressed about how it ends. That’s a huge part of it. And for some people, especially those carrying emotional baggage, even the “play” of getting to know someone can be difficult. You have to peel back those layers before you can really enjoy playing - being vulnerable, being a goof.

So with people who are a bit blocked, it’s about creating the space - and then helping them realize they can carry that feeling into their everyday life.

So if someone wants to bring a little more play into their daily life, where should they start?

If we’re talking about solo play, I often tell my students: take the metro, look at the people around you, and make up stories about them. What do they do for work? What’s their favorite food? What’s their voice like? You can even imitate the way they move when you’re home.

There are also great party games to get to know each other better. In fact, people often tell me, “We could totally play this game at a dinner party!” Like the classic “Two Truths and a Lie”- it’s always a hit.

When I travel with my improv colleagues, we sometimes invent characters just for fun. One time, we created “Madame Montserrat,” who’s obsessed with leopard print, works in an office, and loves pink stilettos. We gave her a whole life story.

And what about at work? Where play can feel... harder to bring in?

Yes, in more “serious” work environments, it’s definitely more challenging. But that’s exactly where it’s most needed.

In intense jobs, playing together is vital. I love when companies plan improv workshops, laughter therapy, or big games for their holiday parties. It’s a way to let go, to see each other differently. Because work can bring so much pressure - and that often leads to tension or conflict. One way to ease that? Laugh at yourself. Laugh together.

What has improv taught you about joy and spontaneity?

Improv taught me that it’s okay to do something even if it might go wrong. And I learned to find joy in that. I used to be a perfectionist - coming from classical theater, everything was planned and controlled.

Improv showed me that it’s okay to mess up. And that mistakes can be beautiful. That’s huge for someone like me, who used to try to control everything. Improv gave me so much joy, because now I know: I can try something, fail, and the world won’t collapse. What happens if I say something silly and people look at me funny? Nothing. We move on.

Improv taught me self-trust, too: I’ll fall 5,000 times in this life - and 5,000 times, I’ll get back up. And that’s okay. More than okay. No one expects me to be perfect. That’s a powerful lesson - especially for control freaks like I used to be.

And what would you say to someone who says: “I’m just not funny. I’m not creative. That’s not for me”?

I’d say: I get it. I used to say the same. I always thought I was “not funny” - that I was a serious kid.

But I was funny, in my own way. In my inner world, I had my little jokes, my own weird ideas. And much later, I realized I was actually a clown at heart - and clowning is one of the most beautiful things that exists.

Everyone has their own kind of humor. Some people are super serious - but because they’re so serious, they’re hilarious. The one person who says just the right thing at the right moment? That can be the funniest thing ever. That’s the beauty of humor: absurd, dry, British, slapstick… there’s something for everyone. So it’s impossible to say you’re “not funny.” If you look closely, there’s something about you that sparks joy or makes people laugh.

So I’d tell them: I thought I wasn’t funny either. And now I’ve made it my job. Who knows - maybe you’ve got a stage waiting for you too. You never know!

And finally, what inspires you in life?

What other people create. I love watching plays, looking at art, listening to stories - without judgment. Sometimes I relate, sometimes I don’t, but either way it feeds me.

I’m also inspired by what people believe. I love talking about politics, society… I want to understand what people believe and why. I’m all about uncomfortable conversations - as long as they’re respectful.

Even the people we love sometimes believe things we find awful. And we need to understand why. That’s how we build our own thinking - not by repeating what others say, but by truly figuring it out for ourselves.

OLI-REFLECTION

And you - when was the last time you truly had fun? Don’t you think we can have fun at work too? How could you bring a little more play into your daily life?